Arsenal: Anthony Martial, not Nabil Fekir, best needless addition

Anthony Martial and Nabil Fekir have both been linked with possible departures from their respective clubs. For Arsenal, the former is better than the latter, but neither is needed.

As the final international break of the season before the World Cup swings into full flow, the transfer rumours ahead of what is always a slightly rushed and panicked summer transfer window begin to circle. They are inherently interesting. They offer hope, anticipation, change. A refreshing of the norm that, inevitably, brings excitement.

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That is especially true for the beleaguered fan base of Arsenal. Battered and bruised by false dawns and forlorning players, the Gunners’ faithful have come accustomed to latching onto any semblance of positivity and progress, immediately disbanding their usual dismaying thoughts of reality.

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And that is again true this week. On Tuesday morning, the agents of both Anthony Martial and Nabil Fekir, two players of the same nationality, similar position, age and style, and perhaps competing markets, hinted in separate interviews that a summer departure is not beyond the question. Obviously, that set the rumour mill whirring, especially given that Arsenal have been linked with both players in the recent past and often chase after the same profile of recruit, and now North London is a reported possible destination for both players.

If I were to indulge the speculation for a moment, of the two, there is a clear front-runner in my mind. While Fekir boasts a terrific goal-production record, scoring 16 goals and assisting six in 24 Ligue 1 appearances this season, one of which was from the bench, he is a more centralised player, who likes to play behind the striker, weaving in between the lines of the opposition. Despite his ability to play wide, it is his not his most natural role.

Now, the same could be said for Martial. He arrived from Monaco as a wide centre-forward, perhaps with the intention of emulating his hero, Thierry Henry, and spearheading the attack through the middle. But he has spent much of his time at Old Trafford as an advanced wide attacker where he can better utilise his searing pace, direct dribbling intent and adept close control.

That is the type of player that I want at Arsenal: A true winger. Someone who is happy to get chalk on their boots. Someone who can pick up the ball and skip past any defender. Someone who is direct in their decision-making. Someone with accurate, piercing delivery. Someone who loves to fly to the by-line, with or without the ball. That is Martial. It is not Fekir.

Nevertheless, the reason why I say that’s what I want to happen — as an aside, this is why the rumours exist. Papers and websites, like this one, admittedly, like to use the heart-fluttering name to drag readers in, earn their corporate clicks, and beef up their advertising revenue, and it so often happens that the heart-fluttering name is not necessarily what is needed but what is wanted — is because it is, but it is not what needs to happen. Arsenal do not need to bolster their attack with another £50+ million signing. They have too many needs elsewhere: Centre-half, full-back, goalkeeper and defensive midfield, just to name a few.

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But that is the nature of the modern, transfer-driven world that we live in. Martial is the better of the two, but he would still be a needless addition. Now, let’s move on to grisly defenders, shall we?

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